Post by iowaoaks on Oct 8, 2022 9:01:18 GMT -5
Got another Wrestling comic book review...
Hell is a Squared Circle author, Chris Condon, asks "Is Wrestling Noir a Genre?" An interesting supposition as there is certainly a lot of books and comics that use wrestling and its history of seedy-ness as a backdrop in storytelling.
So, what is Noir? I looked up the definition as it is a term, kind of like pornography - "You know it when you see it." Internet tells me Noir is "relating to a genre of crime literature featuring tough, cynical characters and bleak settings and Suggestive of danger or violence." That most definitely tells you what you can expect from Hell is a Squared Circle.
Ted "The Irish Mooska" Walsh is a territory heel who just can't seem to get the big break he needs to turn his life around. A rather dis-likable guy, Walsh is always behind on rent, child support and just generally behind on life. Easily described as "a good hand," Walsh attempts to MAKE things turn around for him, but as Noir storytelling goes, you can guess how that turns out both in and out of the ring.
I enjoyed the book, but didn't love it. Published by Aftershock, it is an over sized (old school Marvel "magazine" size) format and square bound. More comics publishing needs to go this way, though it does push the books price point a little higher, coming in at $7.99. The art by Francesco Biagini and coloring by Mark Englert is pretty good, but very stylized. I liked it, but for the story I felt it was a little distracting as it used lots of bright colors for a fairly dark story and genre. The cover art by Jacob Phillips, however, is so very good it could hang on the wall as some sweet wrestling art.
All in all, a thumbs up, but certainly not for everyone.
Hell is a Squared Circle author, Chris Condon, asks "Is Wrestling Noir a Genre?" An interesting supposition as there is certainly a lot of books and comics that use wrestling and its history of seedy-ness as a backdrop in storytelling.
So, what is Noir? I looked up the definition as it is a term, kind of like pornography - "You know it when you see it." Internet tells me Noir is "relating to a genre of crime literature featuring tough, cynical characters and bleak settings and Suggestive of danger or violence." That most definitely tells you what you can expect from Hell is a Squared Circle.
Ted "The Irish Mooska" Walsh is a territory heel who just can't seem to get the big break he needs to turn his life around. A rather dis-likable guy, Walsh is always behind on rent, child support and just generally behind on life. Easily described as "a good hand," Walsh attempts to MAKE things turn around for him, but as Noir storytelling goes, you can guess how that turns out both in and out of the ring.
I enjoyed the book, but didn't love it. Published by Aftershock, it is an over sized (old school Marvel "magazine" size) format and square bound. More comics publishing needs to go this way, though it does push the books price point a little higher, coming in at $7.99. The art by Francesco Biagini and coloring by Mark Englert is pretty good, but very stylized. I liked it, but for the story I felt it was a little distracting as it used lots of bright colors for a fairly dark story and genre. The cover art by Jacob Phillips, however, is so very good it could hang on the wall as some sweet wrestling art.
All in all, a thumbs up, but certainly not for everyone.